Kalahandi, Jun 10: In a major crackdown on corruption, the Vigilance department Tuesday arrested IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, sub-collector of Dharamgarh, after he was caught accepting Rs 10 lakh bribe from a crusher owner on Monday.

Chakma was arrested as his bail plea was rejected.

According to Vigilance officials, Chakma, 35, currently posted as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, had allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh from a businessman who owns a stone crusher unit, threatening action against the unit if the demand was not met.

Left with no option, the businessman approached Vigilance authorities, who then laid a trap. Subsequently, raids were conducted at his house and office.

During the search, an additional Rs 47 lakh in cash was recovered from his residence. As he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the large amount of unaccounted cash, it was seized as part of the investigation.

The bribe was reportedly the first installment of a Rs 20 lakh demand.

Chakma, a native of Tripura, had earlier joined the Odisha cadre as an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer in 2019 and served briefly as Assistant Conservator of Forests in Baripada, Mayurbhanj.

He later cleared the civil services examination again in 2021, secured a higher rank, and was inducted into the IAS. He was posted as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in January 2024.

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